Four tones on one leaf
Two green zones, yellow margins and warm edges create continuous multicolour detail.
Agave 'quadricolor' 13cm
Normal price
€15,90
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Agave 'quadricolor'
When the red outline switches on, something is going right 🔥
- Asparagaceae
- Green and yellow stripes
- Pink to red margins
- Dense offsetting rosette
- RHS Award of Garden Merit
Agave 'quadricolor' compresses four colour zones into every narrow leaf: deep green, a brighter central stripe, lemon margins and pink to red teeth. Its dense rosette reads like a graphic pattern, each repeated line ending in a crisp, decisive point.
It delivers remarkable detail at a compact scale, adding immediate colour without losing the disciplined architectural character of an agave. Layered variegation and its ability to build a full cluster make it an outstanding choice for a collection, a gift or a bold accent on a contemporary terrace.
What makes it stand out
Three defining details that turn its botanical identity into real presence for a collection and interior.
A graphic toothed line
Marginal teeth repeat like stitching around the entire rosette.
A rosette that fills out
Offsets can turn a single plant into a dense multicoloured cluster.
Why you’ll love it: it offers four-colour variegation, disciplined geometry and award-winning garden value in one compact agave.
In your spacePlacement & plant pairingsWhere it looks best and which plants complement it
Where it looks its best
Place it in a single-colour pot made from charcoal ceramic, natural terracotta or pale stone. Leave the outline unobstructed and keep it away from traffic so its red edges can be enjoyed without contact.
Plants that complement it
Pair it with plants that genuinely share its light, substrate and seasonal rhythm. Separate pots keep care precise for each one.
- Curio repens — a blue ground layer intensifying the yellow bands.
- Ferocactus glaucescens — rounded blue mass against the fine stripes.
- Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire’ — warm upright lines echoing the red margins.
Care at a glance
Light
Very intense brightness to sun, introduced gradually for clean edging.
Watering
Water deeply only after complete drying, never leaving moisture in the centre.
Variegated agave
Open airflow, warm growth and protection from frost and cold winter rain.
Pets & children
Rigid teeth, terminal spine and irritating sap; wear gloves and choose a safe position.
For this plant
Substrate & nutrition
Detailed careComplete care guideLight, drying cycle, climate, substrate and feeding in detail
Light and position
Provide very intense brightness and several hours of sun, increasing exposure gradually after greenhouse conditions or winter. This keeps the rosette compact and its colouring clean.
Correct watering
Wait until the entire mix is dry and the pot feels distinctly lighter. Water deeply at the base, let excess drain freely and do not repeat while cool moisture remains lower down.
Airflow and humidity
Open airflow limits stagnant dampness between the leaves and around the crown. Avoid misting and positions where rain or irrigation sits in the centre for many hours.
Temperature and seasonal rhythm
Active growth strengthens with warmth and long days. Growth slows in cool weather, so reduce moisture sharply and protect the rosette from frost and prolonged cold rain.
Substrate
Use a highly free-draining cactus and succulent mix with plenty of pumice, lava or another mineral component. Keep the crown above the surface and ensure the pot has clear drainage holes.
Feeding, repotting and handling
After repotting, wait for active growth to resume. In the warm season use diluted Cactus & Succulent Focus as directed, never during dry or cool dormancy; wear gloves around sharp margins.
Botanical identityIdentity & natural originAccepted name, taxonomic history and natural or cultivated provenance
A selection of A. lophantha
‘Quadricolor’ is a stable variegated selection, not a natural botanical form. A verified originator and first-selection year are not documented in the principal references.
Two names in cultivation
The RHS uses Agave univittata ‘Quadricolor’ and lists A. lophantha ‘Quadricolor’ as a synonym. Kew currently accepts the wild species as A. lophantha.
A Texas and Mexican foundation
Wild Agave lophantha ranges from south-west Texas into north-eastern and north-central Mexico, in desert or dry shrubland.
From natural habitat to care: The narrow toothed rosette of the wild species is adapted to intense exposure, rapid drainage and seasonal drought. Variegated yellow tissue holds less chlorophyll, so the cultivar needs strong intensity introduced gradually.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific facts nobody asked forBotanical detail for anyone who wants to know what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Four colours in living tissue
Green zones carry more chlorophyll, yellow tissue carries less, and red tones come from protective pigments.
Margins change seasonally
Cool periods and strong exposure can intensify pink or red edging without changing the genetic variegation.
Awarded by the RHS
‘Quadricolor’ holds an Award of Garden Merit for reliable ornamental performance in suitable conditions.
Offsets preserve the pattern
Vegetative division of a stable clone preserves the stripe pattern far more reliably than seed.
Frequently asked questions
Useful answers about light, watering, seasonal rhythm and the plant’s correct identity.
01Is it Agave univittata or A. lophantha?
Both names occur in cultivation. Kew accepts the wild species as A. lophantha, while the RHS keeps the cultivar under A. univittata.
02Why does it look pinker at some times?
Warm protective pigments often intensify with cooler nights and stronger exposure, while the basic yellow-green pattern remains.
03When does it need watering?
Water only after the mix is dry to the bottom and the pot feels distinctly light.
04What light does it need?
It needs very intense brightness and several hours of direct sun, always introduced gradually.
05What changes with the seasons?
It grows in warmth, slows in cool weather and stays much drier then. Protect it from frost and cold rain.
06Can it stand beside a walkway?
No. Marginal teeth and the terminal spine can injure. It needs a stable position away from children, animals and frequent traffic.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.